Blood banks are the area where the blood is collected, stored, processed and supplied to those in need. In ancient times, unlike today when we have
forensic science, people were not awarded of blood transfusion. They use to think that
blood is the most
important component of our body. Than in 1665, Richard lower conducted first blood transfusion between two dogs. This became successful. Then, others tried transfusing the blood from
animals to
humans, which went unsuccessful. Than in 1818, James, from Britain successfully transferred blood from husband (donor) to wife (acceptor).
But still, not all the cases were successful. Later, in 1901 Karl Landsteiner, born an Austrian who later became a physician, and the most important individual in the study of human blood transfusion, documented the first three human Blood groups (based on substances present on the red Blood cells), A, B and O. And fourth blood AB group was documented by A. Decastrello and A.sturli in 1902. Now when they were awarded of different types of blood groups than they also came to know about the reason why the earlier transfusions were sometimes successful and sometimes not. The first blood bank was organized at Chicago’s Cook County Hospital.
Irwin Memorial Blood Bank was the first community-based blood centre. It was established in San Francisco in 1941. Basic demand of blood banks was raised at the time of World War-II, when physicians saw the effectiveness of transfusion therapy. Dr. Charles helped supplying thousand units of blood to world war-II victims. The American Association of Blood Banks now known as the AABB, was originally formed to support, encourage and develop the practice for blood banks.
At the beginning of 1948 the American National Red Cross was able to operate blood program to collect and distribute blood to patients in need. In 1962, several communities joined hands together not to form a
hobby or toy club but instead they started helping local hospitals, civic groups and medical centres to establish
blood bank centres. And now as we all know that we have more than million blood banks all over the world. Many organizations like Red Cross and other NGOs help organizing blood donation camps in hospitals, schools or colleges to encourage all youngsters to donate blood. It should become easy with
cell phones and all that texting that the youth do. Some even help
vanish debt by selling blood platelets for a few dollars also
A child at play
